Dear Santa Claus...

I have heard a rumour that you are finding it extremely difficult to choose gifts for me this year.  (Apparently deciding if I were "naughty or nice" was a problem, too, but I'm assuming I made the "nice" list, or else you wouldn't be choosing gifts, right? :) )

Anyway, I thought I would do my best to help you out (because I'm "nice"), so here is a list of things that would be delightful to see in my stocking or under my tree on Christmas morning.  (Intangibles like "world peace" go without saying.)  I'm posting it here so that you'll have access to it anywhere you have Wi-Fi.

1. The Indigo Sisters - a 5" x 7" print by Saint John, NB artist Jessica Doyle.  I first saw Jessica's work at a local framing studio and gallery, and it always makes me smile. Although the sisters' names are Emma, Dorothy and Louise, I prefer to think of them as Karen, Krista, and Ferne. :)


2. Batteries for the GPS! A geocacher can never have too many!  It takes 2 AAs, in case you're wondering, and I go through them like crazy.


3. Oil Coloured Pencils (by Walnut Hollow).  These come in a variety of packages at Michaels.  I've been dying to try them, but don't have any of them, so you don't have to worry about duplication.  Do yourself a favour, though, Santa, and use a coupon!


4. Art Canvasses from Dollarama. I love these things!  For the 8" x 10" size, I prefer the ones stapled onto the wooden frame, but I like the smaller flat ones, too!


5. Rughooking Linen from River Gallery. It might be hard to pick out wool for me, as you don't know what I already have in my stash, and I'm trying to use up what I have before getting more.  (Like that's gonna happen!)  But if you wanted to get me something I could use for my rughooking passion, linen suitable for either primitive or fine cuts would be great!


6. Sims 2 Stuff Packs. I know this will come as a shock, but I don't actually have all the Sims 2 software.  Since they've come out with Sims 3 (to which I have no intention of upgrading), I'm afraid these stuff packs will soon be hard to get.  The ones I'm still looking for are The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff, The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff, The Sims 2 Happy Holiday Stuff, and The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff.


7. Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. I started to read this book a year and a half ago, and read just enough to know that I wanted my very own copy!  (Incidentally, my entire Chapters/Indigo book wish list is available for viewing here, just in case you wanted to see it.)


8. A small calendar for my office, (the size that's about 6" x 6" when closed) featuring wolves, or puppies, or kitties, or whales, or horses.


9. A horse. It's been on my wish list since I was three, and it still hasn't happened yet.  Get on that, Santa! :)


10. Gift cards. I know you sometimes don't like giving them, because it doesn't seem like much to open, but I LOVE receiving them!  Think of it as giving the gift of shopping!  My favourite spots are Michaels, Indigo and Starbucks, but WalMart would also be very much appreciated.

Anyway, Santa, I hope that helps!  Merry Christmas, and I'll try to bake some (edible) cookies for you!

Love, KJ (a very good girl)

Saturday

After a while, you get so used to staying inside that you simply don't go out again. Given the insanely cold weather we're having, I was afraid of that happening, and I was afraid that if I let Betsy sit any longer, she wouldn't start.

So I finally dragged myself out of the house today (after bribing Hubby to start my car). The lure to get me out? The only thing that would work -- books.

I just picked up the latest issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, a movie tie-in copy of The Reader, and the trade paperback issue of Susanna Kearsley's most recent book, The Winter Sea.

I have had the hardcover version of The Winter Sea since Susanna sent it to me as a birthday gift back in March, but I haven't read it yet. Part of the reason is that I'm afraid of it getting beaten up in my bookbag, so I'm afraid to take it anywhere. Also, I find hardcovers a little awkward to handle while reading in bed, so those two reasons alone pretty much take care of it not being read.

Then there's the other, less practical reason. Because it's Susanna's most recent book, that means once I finish it, I will have to wait for another one to be published. I went through withdrawal before, in the years before Season of Storms came out, and it wasn't pretty. *grin*
So I'm sitting here at Starbucks drinking my Grande Signature Hot Chocolate, and planning to spend the rest of the day in bed with a good book.

On the way home, I'll likely pick up a lottery ticket, in the hopes of being able to spend all my future winter days at Indigo and Starbucks, and living in places with lots of heat and tunnels and metros, where you don't have to go outside in winter unless possessed by some foolhardy wish to do so.

Forgive me, Tim Horton. Life is Grande.

Getting a little "shack-wacky".

So, I'm getting better (and the Buckley's didn't kill me). This is FABULOUS! I still feel sub-par, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to need a trip to the doctor and a prescription, so as far as I'm concerned: KJ 1, Cold 0.

I've been inside the house since Saturday afternoon, though, and cabin fever is starting to settle in. I'm not exactly roaming the house talking to myself (although it's hard to tell because Piper usually accompanies me from room to room, and I could be fooling myself that I'm talking to her), but I'm starting to get a little antsy.
On the smart car front, I just noticed as I paid my bills online that there was a contest where, if you registered to receive your bills online, you could win one of three smart cars. So what the heck! One less bill in mailbox, one point for the environment, and maybe one cute little car in the driveway. Sounds good to me!

I wonder if they'd let me upgrade, as the prize is a "pure" coupe and not a "passion", and I really want the panoramic moon roof and heated seats! (Spoiled rotten, I am!) The rules and regulations say that the winner pays for any extra "accessories", so maybe it's possible. I just went on the "build your smart" site, and to add the moon roof, heated seats and mirrors, upgraded stereo, alarm system, fog lights, and the other options I like, it would cost an extra $3730. That's still much cheaper than to buy my little buggy outright! Also, the rules say that the winner might be eligible for the $2000 eco-rebate from the federal government, and I'm pretty sure I could get $1000-2000 for poor Betsy, so ... *grin*

Let's hope that the stars are really aligned in my favour, though. I could only get one entry, as only one bill is in my name (the rest are in Hubby's), but maybe ... just maybe. Oh, and no worries about the fact that it's white in the picture. There's the usual line about the "prize may not be exactly as shown", and if I don't like the colour, I'll just get new yellow panels and swap them for the originals! The draw is October 20th, so let's cross our fingers, shall we?

Coming back to reality ... I might do some hooking today. I still haven't finished my frame cover yet.

When I'm not writing blogs ...

... I'm reading them!

Yesterday I decided that I needed a smart car fix (and let's face it, the poor guy at the dealership is getting tired of entertaining me when we both know I'm broke) so I decided to look for "smart car" and "Canada" on Google.

Before too long, I stumbled across I AM AHEM, which is a blog by a talented, creative woman named Angela who lives in Victoria, BC.

As I read her blog, I noticed that we have an amazing number of coincidences. For example, her cat Bailey kind of looks like a short-haired Zaphod, and while I'm planning a life-change to become a dental hygienist, she has a somewhat different take on the profession, linked in her sidebar. And there's the smart car thing, of course. And that's just the beginning.

I just finished reading her blog. Her whole blog. It's really interesting stuff (and I'm not just saying that because she mentioned I emailed her! *grin*). Check it out!

Call me crazy ...

... but I've already designed a vanity plate for my smart car.

Less is more.

The more I learn about the smart car, the more I'm convinced it's the right vehicle for me.

Now the trick is just figuring out how I can afford to buy one.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

I am again blogging from bed, but it is far from ideal.

Feeling a little desperate, I dug out an old laptop that was abandoned at Hubby's store and was brought home to me a few years ago. I haven't touched this laptop in at least two years because it has a major quirk -- the screen won't stay on for any longer than twelve seconds. I know this because I've timed it. But it's not always twelve seconds. Sometimes it's one. Then I have to stop what I'm doing and hit Function + F5, and it may come back. Or I might have to do it again. And then it might go off again in about three seconds, or less.

(You can actually see that the screen is "a little broken" where it joins with the keyboard.)

Needless to say, this is really frustrating. Hubby is going to raid the abandoned pile at work tomorrow to see if he can find me something else. I'm really not that fussy. I just want something that works -- just something I can surf, blog, and Facebook with. My "real" computer is in my office, and if I feel the need to do "real" stuff, I can just wander in there.

(This computer screen lasted seven seconds on the Palm site when I was wistfully checking out the Palm T|X. Just in case you were wondering.)

So I'm typing away madly at the moment, with a totally blank screen because I can't be bothered to fix it while I'm writing.

But hey -- I'm still technically blogging from bed, watching TV (and away from the drafty window in my office).

A disturbance in the force ...

Yes, sirree, it's that time of year again, when those dreaded words make their first appearance. So far, tonight is only of the 2-4 cm variety, but still. I hate the stuff.

Well, okay. Enough whining. I will admit that I need it in order for it to feel like Christmas. And there is nothing nicer than hearing those magic words on the radio ("All Schools in Districts 6, 8, 10 and 17 are closed ..."), especially when I can afford to not work that day. I'm looking forward to snuggling back under the covers with the puppy and the cats on those days. But as for the substance itself ... bleah!

If I should happen to win the $37 million tonight on the 6/49 lottery, I will be moving to Montreal, where I will take out a long term rental on a hotel room that's connected to the Underground City, and where I will not have to emerge into the Great White North until April, if I don't want to.

So there. *grin*

If I win the lottery tonight ...

... I am seriously going to look at buying this house.

Hubby says that he doesn't want to live on the west side, but if it's my ticket that wins, then he'll have to negotiate. (wink)

After reading the description on the real estate page, I was able to find a floor plan for it here. I love the colour. I love the fact that it has a front porch. I love the two-door garage, and best of all, I love the proximity to the water.

Cross your fingers for me. (Don't worry -- Hubby will get over it.)

When I Win the Lottery ...

... I'm moving here!

Casco Bay Island for sale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5

Dear, sweet, beautiful camera ... How I long for thee ...

Dear Santa ...

I want a new laptop -- the key word here being "new". I know that it might be a little early in the year for such things, but I really want you to have time to think about it.

I have two laptops at the current time, both of which were abandoned at my husband's business by people who went on to better-behaving machines. In other words, the price was right, but they have "issues".

Laptop #1 cannot hook up to our wireless network at home, and the N-key sticks, but the kicker is that the screen will only stay on if you clamp a huge, ugly dollar-store red metal vise on a certain spot on the screen frame. Not exactly portable, and, frankly, embarrassing. Especially if one's husband has a computer business.

Laptop #2 has keys that all work fine and will hook up to our home wireless network, and is now my laptop of limited choice. The massive problem with Laptop #2 is that, 94% of the time, the screen only stays on for 2-11 seconds before it goes blank and switches the display to the attached monitor. Problem is, there is no attached monitor. If I wanted to attach a monitor, why the heck would I bother with a laptop?!

You know, this blog would probably be updated more if I didn't have to sit in this particular chair to do it. So, Santa, if you're a fan of my blog, cough up!